Air chamber rubber shoe heel



G. W. GRIFFITH 11 %,75

AIR CHAMBER RUBBER SHOE HEEL March 2% H934,

Original Filed March 11, 1930 Egan 2\=f%\\\\\/ V? M E a EW E1 1? Fi th INVENTOR.

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Patented Mar. 20, 1934 AIR CHAMBER RUBBER SHOE HEEL George W. Griffith, New York, N. Y., assignor to Pneumatic Rubber Heel Corporation, New York, N. Y a corporation'of Delaware Refile for abandoned application Serial No.

434,872, filed March 11, 1930. This application 1 January. 20, 1933, Serial No..652,610

4 Claims. (01. 36-35) This application is a refiling of my former application, Serial 434,872, filed March 11, 1930, which became abandoned.

. My invention relates to rubber shoe heels, and 5 refers more particularly to pneumatic cushion heels.

One object of my invention is to provide a rubber shoe heel, which combines with the functions of an ordinary cushion rubber heel, the addil0 tional function of a pneumatic cushion chamber. Another object of my invention is to provide a pneumatic rubber heel, having a cavity or air chamber, the resilient wall of which is formed with a valved vent.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rubber shoe heel, wherein the weight placed thereon is resiliently supported by a yielding, resilient Wall which encloses an air chamber, a resilient thrust block or lug located centrally'of the chamber, and an air passage through the resilient wall for the air chamber, which forms a valve for modifying the flow of air into and out of the chamber, during the use of the rubber heel in normal walking. A still further object of my invention is to provide a pneumatic cushion for a rubber heel,,with a valve adapted to allow air to flow into and out of the air chamber of the improved heel, and to I prevent foreign material from entering the air '30 chamber.

I attain these objects preferably by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, where in similar numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, in which:- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the improved rubber shoe heel.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The improved rubber shoe heel is formed preferably in one piece and provides a bottom or tread face 1, and an integral side wall 2, located on the upper side thereof, which is substantially "4'5 D-shaped, and is provided with a dished upper surface to engage the heel of the shoe to which it is to be attached. The improved heel is attached to the shoe by means of holes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 a. and 9, located at suitably spaced points along the marginal edge portion of the heel and extending partly into the marginal side wall 2. Washers 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are located in registration with the holes, in corresponding order, one M washer being located in each hole, and embedded in the body of the heel so as to be intermediate of the outer and inner ends of the hole. Attaching nails, not shown, are driven through these holes, and washers, into the shoe to attach the rubber heel thereto. The washers serve to hold the shoe heel attached to the shoe.

In the approximate center of the heel body a thrust lug or block 17 is formed integral therewith, the inner end surface of which is located inwardly of the upper surface of the marginal wall 2, so that there will be a slight relative pressure movement of the thrust block, during walkmg.

The marginal wall 2 is formed with internal, radial ribs 19, which project in a general direction toward the thrust block or lug 17. The adjacent side faces of these radial ribs are spaced apart from each other, so as to allow relative movement under the pressure of walking. The internally ribbed or deeply corrugated marginal wall 2 thus provides an enclosed air chamber 18, designed to improve the cushioning qualities of the rubber heel.

The marginal side wall 2 receives the load developed in walking, and under foot pressure the radial ribs will yield internally, thus subjecting any air in the chamber 18 to compression. The wall 2 and its radial ribs slope upwardly and outwardly from their integral connection with the body of the heel.

The marginal Wall 2 is formed with an air passage 22, which slopes downwardly and outwardly, and which establishes communication between the air chamber 18 and the atmosphere, through the thin, flexible partition 23, which is formed with a small air hole 24. This partition is located adjacent to the air chamber 18, and acts as a valve to restrict the volume of air flowing out of and into the air chamber, as the rubber shoe heel is alternately subjected to compressive loads and to'expansion, under the reaction of its own resiliency.

The downward slope of the air passage 22 tends to prevent any foreign matter from entering the air chamber and interfering with the cushioning action developed, by the combined effects of the air when subject to compressive action, and the ribbed supporting wall, when displaced internally under walking pressure.

When the heel is fully compressed the thrust block or lug will engage the bottom face of the shoe heel, and thus add resistance to the further compressive action developed upon the trapped air and the ribbed marginal wall of the heel. I

Having thus illustrated and described my invention, the preferred form of which is designed to utilize resilient rubber or any similar material, I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction or arrangement of parts shown, since it is evident that modifications may be made therein, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the claims annexed hereto.

I claim as new:

1. A rubber heel having a cavity therein forming an air chamber, and an opening communicating with the atmosphere and sloping relative to the cavity, the heel being provided with a perforated partition located at the inner end of the opening. I

2. A rubber heel having a cavity therein providing an air chamber and formed with an opening sloping upwardly to the upper portion of the air chamber and forming communication with the atmosphere, the heel being provided with a perforated partition located at the inner end of the opening.

3. A rubber heel having a cavity therein providing an air chamber and a relatively thin marginal wall enclosing said chamber and providing a plurality of internal ribs, a thrust lug formed on the heel and located inwardly of the marginal wall, and an opening formed in the rubber heel forming communication between the air chamber and the atmosphere, a thin perforated partitionlbeing located at the inner end of the opening.

1. A rubber heel having a cavity therein providing an air chamber and having a marginal wall enclosing the chamber providing a series of load supporting internal ribs spaced from each other, 'a' thrust lug'formed on said heel and located inwardly of the marginal wall and having its inner end spaced'inwardly of the inner face of the marginal wall, the heel being formed with an opening conununicatmg with the atmosphere and with the air chamber through a thin perforated portion of the material of the heel.

GEORGE w. GRIFFITH. 

